How President Trump’s early executive actions will impact Southern California

• January 23, 2025

The new Trump administration has been nothing if not a flurry of early activity.

President Donald Trump, on Day 1, signed hundreds of executive actions. Some were mostly symbolic. Some will have implications yet to be fully determined.

But others have a direct and almost immediate impact on the Southern California region, from the slew of immigration policy changes to the pardons of dozens of local people who were part of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

“Executive orders are a familiar tool in the presidential toolbox, but not all executive orders (and comparable tools) serve the same purpose,” said Matthew Beckmann, who teaches political science at UC Irvine and studies Washington politics.

“Some are real policy changes that have firm and operational footing, which allows them to be implemented quickly,” Beckmann continued. “Many others, however, are more ambiguous constitutionally, legally, programmatically and operationally.”

In a nutshell, executive orders are used by presidents — even as early as Day 1 — to indicate how they want the federal government to operate. They can be some of the earliest windows into how a president plans to have the government managed under his tenure.

They can lay out major policies. They could request information from departments. Or they can be an apparatus to bypass Congress.

Beckmann suggested that many of Trump’s initial orders were “tailored more for the media than the bureaucracy.”

“None of this is to say Trump’s orders are irrelevant or unimportant, but it is to say that most of these reveals the starting point, not the finish line,” Beckmann said.

To that point, the full impact of Trump’s early actions on Southern California is yet to be figured. But here is a quick look at a few of Trump’s initial directives and the implications already felt as he is expected to visit the region Friday.

Sanctuary policies vs. federal funds

In one of Trump’s Day 1 orders, he tasked federal officials with evaluating whether “‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions” could lose federal funds.

Specifically, the order instructs the attorney general and Department of Homeland Security secretary to “evaluate and undertake any lawful actions to ensure that so-called ‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions, which seek to interfere with the lawful exercise of federal law enforcement operations, do not receive access to federal funds.”

California law — upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court after the first Trump administration challenged it — limits how much local law enforcement can work with federal immigration authorities on certain enforcement efforts. Authored by then-state Sen. Kevin De León in 2017, the intention is to keep local law enforcement focused on community policing “rather than rounding up hardworking, honest immigrants who in many instances assist police in solving crimes rather than committing them.”

Pointing specifically to California, Trump said in a recent Fox News interview, “We’re trying to get rid of them (sanctuary policies), and we’re trying to end them. And a lot of the people in those communities don’t want them.” Trump said he “might” have to “cut off their money,” adding that sometimes that is “the only thing you can do.”

Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, a member of the Budget Committee, said legislators are “certainly keeping an eye on everything that President Trump does and says.”

“We also want to continue to remind President Trump that there are Republicans as well as Democrats here in the state of California, and it should not be a partisan issue,” Muratsuchi, a Torrance Democrat, said when asked about Trump’s order. “He should not put strings on any federal funding obligations for any city or state, including the state of California.”

Last month, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a sanctuary city ordinance that restricts resources and personnel from being used to help federal immigration enforcement efforts. It was passed unanimously.

“Our law enforcement policies are based on how best to keep Angelenos safe,” said Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Huntington Beach officials, notably, declared the Orange County city a “non-sanctuary city” earlier this week. Mayor Pat Burns said the designation is meant to be “a signal to would-be criminals, do not come to Huntington Beach.”

Restaurants still recovering from COVID

The restaurant and food industries are already feeling the effects of Trump’s promises of mass deportations, said Lilly Rocha, the CEO and executive director of the Latino Restaurant Association.

And those are industries that still haven’t fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many restaurants and catering businesses and venues had to shutter their doors.

“We just want a plan,” Rocha said. “There are a lot of businesses that depend on Latino labor, and if they have these sorts of disruptions without a plan, I feel like the entire industry could break.”

“We’re on the same page as the adminsitration in regards to crime,” said Rocha. “But we want to work with the administration to have a better plan in place so that the entire restaurant industry doesn’t collapse.”

People, many of whom aren’t criminals or even wanted by police, Rocha said, are skipping work, too scared to show up to their jobs. And when workers don’t show up, it’s not just the restaurant industry that feels the impacts, Rocha noted. Those employees will need to be dependent on other means to bring in money or resources and will put stress on systems like food banks.

“It definitely is already creating a cascade effect, a snowball effect, for sure,” said Rocha. “People are scared.”

Floating an old water plan

As Southern California continues to grapple with catastrophic wildfires, Trump has continued to float withholding federal recovery aid.

“I don’t think we should give California anything until they let water flow down” from the Delta region, Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity in his first television interview since he took office this week.

Trump issued a directive on Monday to the secretaries of commerce and interior to work with other agencies to “route more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to other parts of the state for use by the people there who desperately need a reliable water supply.”

“The recent deadly and historically destructive wildfires in Southern California underscore why the state of California needs a reliable water supply and sound vegetation management practices in order to provide water desperately needed there, and why this plan must immediately be reimplemented,” the memorandum said.

The order reinstates plans put forth during his first administration that the state sued to block.

But Karla Nemeth, director of the state Department of Water Resources, has suggested Trump’s plan won’t actually alleviate water issues in Southern California.

Trump’s plan “has the potential to harm Central Valley farms and Southern California communities that depend upon water delivered from the Delta, and it will do nothing to improve current water supplies in the Los Angeles basin,” Nemeth told CalMatters.

Militarization of the border

Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border upon taking office, and on Wednesday, the Department of Defense said it was deploying 1,500 active duty service members to assist troops already doing enforcement operations in the area.

That includes 500 Marines and sailors from Camp Pendleton’s I Marine Expeditionary Force to “carry out directed missions called for by the president to secure the border and protect and defend the territorial integrity of the United States,” according to IMEF officials.

Staff writer Erika I. Ritchie and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

​ Orange County Register 

UCLA’s Mick Cronin picks his spots with William Kyle III and Aday Mara

• January 23, 2025

LOS ANGELES — William Kyle III decided to put his high-jumping career on hold after COVID-19 canceled his sophomore season of high school, instead shifting his focus to basketball.

That verticality, though, didn’t just disappear. It helped him earn Summit League Defensive Player of the Year last year as a sophomore at South Dakota State. And on Tuesday, it proved the difference in UCLA’s 85-83 win over Wisconsin.

Kyle hadn’t seen the floor in the second half until UCLA men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin subbed him into the game with 30 seconds left.

The Bruins were up two points, needing a stop. Badgers guard John Blackwell drove into the left side of the paint and, as he rose for a shot, Kyle ditched his assignment to contest Blackwell’s shot.

“I didn’t expect to block it,” he said Thursday, reflecting on the play. “Just tried to get a contest and then, luckily, blocked the shot.”

Kyle’s a humble kid, but that game-sealing block was a product of his instincts and athleticism. It’s why Cronin deployed him then, the center in a lineup of five players who could guard any position.

That’s what he felt was needed in that scenario.

Cronin had played 7-foot-3 sophomore Aday Mara 15 minutes in the second half, as his size and footwork gave Wisconsin fits, but when Cronin identified a moment better suited for Kyle, he smoothly went back to him.

“We got production from two guys that I was saying we gotta get,” Cronin said.

It’s unrealistic to expect either big man to solidify themselves as a 30-plus minute player. Their destiny is to be effective in spurts, complement Tyler Bilodeau and act as puzzle pieces for Cronin.

Over the Bruins’ (13-6, 4-4 Big Ten) recent homestand, Kyle and Mara traded breakout performances. In a Big Ten Conference where roster construction varies, Cronin’s effectiveness in mixing his frontcourt to match each opponent will go a long way in determining their success.

On Friday, UCLA will play a Washington team (10-9, 1-7) led by formidable 6-foot-8 forward Great Osobor, who uses his strength to gain position inside. The Bruins beat the Huskies 69-58 in their Big Ten debut Dec. 3, but the Huskies were without 6-foot-11 center Franck Kepnang, who Cronin said may return for the rematch.

Neither Kyle nor Mara was effective in the previous matchup. Mara played 14 minutes, scoring four points; Kyle played eight minutes and didn’t score.

Those unimpressive performances were common early in the season as Cronin tried to understand when it made sense to play each one. Kyle struggled to adapt to the speed of the game in a Power-4 conference. Mara was a step slow defensively; offensively, his size was neutralized, Cronin said, because teams “were allowed to tackle him” and he wasn’t receiving a “fair whistle.”

Cronin took accountability for their slow maturation process, saying the duo needed more coaching. That was especially apparent after Michigan handed the Bruins a 94-75 drubbing in Pauley Pavilion, in which the Wolverines’ pair of 7-footers imposed their will, while Cronin played Kyle and Mara a combined 12 minutes.

But, he stuck with it, knowing it would determine the Bruins’ ceiling in the Big Ten.

It was also crucial in unlocking Bilodeau, the Bruins’ leading scorer (14.6 points per game). He’s struggled, at times, in pick-and-roll coverage and, at 6-9, guarding bigger players. Cronin had rarely played Mara or Kyle with Bilodeau, but when they shared the court over the past two games, Kyle’s agility allowed him to man the perimeter, while Bilodeau could focus on protecting the rim. Mara’s ability to score inside freed Bilodeau to space the floor.

“(Cronin) is very strategic in that way,” Kyle said.

Cronin felt Kyle could handle Iowa’s tendency to spread out a defense with its drive-and-kicks. The result: Kyle had his best performance in a 94-70 rout of the Hawkeyes and Mara didn’t play.

But against Wisconsin, he thought Mara would have an advantage against Crowl. The result: Mara played a season-high 21 minutes and scored a career-high 22 points, while Kyle played sparingly but maximized his opportunity with that block.

“Made me look smart,” Cronin said about the lineup decisions that led to Tuesday’s win over Wisconsin.

UCLA at Washington

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Alaska Airlines Arena, Seattle

TV/radio: FS1/AM 570

​ Orange County Register 

Hughes fire near Santa Clarita adds to list of LA air quality woes

• January 23, 2025

As smoke, dust and harmful ash continue to hit areas throughout Los Angeles County amidst several wildfires, burn scars and wind, two air quality advisories have been issued.

Smoke from the Hughes fire, which began on Wednesday, Jan. 22, has resulted in unhealthy air quality, the South Coast Air Quality Management District announced.

The areas surrounding the wildfire, including the San Gabriel Mountains, the 5 Freeway corridor near Castaic Lake and Santa Clarita, are expected to be the most impacted by the Hughes fire, which started near Castaic in the Antelope Valley and exploded to 10,176 acres.

The smoke advisory remains in effect until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23.

“Smoke and ash can harm everyone, even those who are healthy. However, people at higher risk include children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and those with heart or lung conditions or weakened immune systems, Dr. Muntu Davis, health officer for Los Angeles County, said in a news release.

A windblown dust and ash advisory also was issued by the county’s Public Health agency, warning that Santa Ana winds gusting through the city may stir up ash and create dust from burn scar areas of the Palisades, Eaton and other recent fires. That advisory is in place until 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23.

People are encouraged to wear N95 or P100 masks, avoid the outdoors, limit exercise, keep doors and windows closed, protect their eyes and keep pets inside.

“Air quality may reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse in some regions. While ash particles are typically visible, they may not always affect Air Quality Index (AQI) readings. Nonetheless, these particles can carry toxic materials and pose significant health risks,” the County of Los Angeles Public Health wrote in a news release.

More information about air quality can be found at the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Air quality monitoring not equipped to measure full dangers from Eaton, Palisades fires, experts say

​ Orange County Register 

8 roller coasters coming to new Six Flags park in Saudi Arabia

• January 23, 2025

Roller coaster enthusiasts will all be closely watching Saudi Arabia this year as the $1 billion Six Flags Qiddiya opens with a lineup of eight new coasters — including the fastest, tallest and longest coaster in the world.

The first Six Flags park designed and built from the ground up outside North America is expected to open in late 2025 outside the capital city of Riyadh.

ALSO SEE: 1,000-foot-tall roller coaster about to become a reality

The massive $350 billion Qiddiya project will also include a soccer stadium, Formula One race track, esports arena, concert venues, safari experiences, casinos, golf courses and other entertainment offerings.

Construction on the 79-acre Six Flags park started in 2021 after the project was first announced in 2016, according to Themeparx.

ALSO SEE: The race is on to open America’s first tilt coaster

Six Flags and Cedar Fair merged over the summer in an $8 billion deal that combined the two companies into an amusement park juggernaut.

The Six Flags-branded park will be built, operated and licensed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund through its Qiddiya Investment Company.

Let’s take a closer look at the eight new roller coasters coming to Six Flags Qiddiya.

1) Falcons Flight

The roller coaster record books will be completely reshuffled in 2025 when Falcons Flight debuts as the fastest (155 mph), tallest (640 feet) and longest (13,944 feet) coaster in the world.

The world’s first Intamin Exa launch coaster will shatter the height record held by the previous record holder — the retiring Kingda Ka at New Jersey’s Six Flags Great Adventure. Falcons Flight will stand on a 640-foot cliff with a 519 foot drop.

ALSO SEE: Six Flags to spend $1 billion on 11 coasters over next 2 years

Falcons Flight may put the coaster track length record forever out of reach with the new ride beating the mark held by Steel Dragon 2000 in Japan’s Nagashima Spa Land by more than a mile.

The new speed record will remain in reach with Falcons Flight clocking in at a mere 6 mph faster than Formula Rossa at Ferrari World in the United Arab Emirates.

2) Iron Rattler

The Iron Rattler coaster will take riders up a chain-driven lift hill to a height of 208 feet before introducing the ride’s terrifying twist: A tilt track element.

The Vekoma Tilt Coaster will reach a top speed of 73 mph over 4,000 feet of twisting and looping track, according to Roller Coaster Database.

Following the tilting drop, riders will plummet vertically into an underground mine shaft before navigating a stall loop, two Zero-G rolls and two barrel rolls.

ALSO SEE: 5 of the world’s fastest coasters are closed, but a new king will soon rise

The world’s tallest tilt coaster will be the centerpiece of Steam Town, the frontier-themed land designed by chief engineer and inventor Professor Screemore where the past and future collide.

Six Flags America in Maryland has a similar steampunk-themed SteamTown that debuted in June.

The relatively rare tilt coaster will also show up stateside in 2025 at Ohio’s Cedar Point — now part of the Six Flags family.

Siren’s Curse will be smaller and slower than its Qiddiya cousin — but the Cedar Point ride will still be billed as the tallest, longest and fastest ride of its kind in North America.

3) Spitfire

Spitfire only has one inversion — but it comes at the highest point of the ride inside the towering Top Hat element.

The 240-foot-tall inverted Top Hat element will make Spitfire the tallest ride of its kind in the world.

The triple-launch Intamin coaster will reach a top speed of 79 mph over 1,900 feet of track.

ALSO SEE: Coaster war brewing between Six Flags Magic Mountain and relatively unknown European rival

Spitfire will be the marquee attraction in the Valley of Fortune themed land set amid Arabian architectural ruins.

Six Flags will be opening another coaster in 2025 with an inside Top Hat element: AlpenFury at Canada’s Wonderland. The 164-foot-tall AlpenFury will be much shorter than Spitfire, but will boast six more inversions than the Qiddiya coaster.

4) Colossus

The Colossus wooden coaster coming to Qiddiya will sound familiar to Six Flags Magic Mountain fans who fondly remember the Valencia amusement park’s 1976 wooden coaster before it was transformed into Twisted Colossus.

The 95-foot-tall hybrid wooden coaster by Great Coasters International will wind throughout the Grand Exposition theme land at Six Flags Qiddiya.

The Infinity Flyer trains will reach a top speed of 50 mph over nearly 3,000 feet of track.

ALSO SEE: 4 reasons why Universal won’t launch Fast & Furious coaster until 2026

5) Saw Mill Falls

The Saw Mill Falls water coaster coming to Six Flags Qiddiya will help emphasize the frontier town theme of Steam Town where the past and future collide.

Riders will embark on a whitewater adventure aboard one of Professor Screemore’s prototype “Vaporizing Vehicles” on a boat ride attached to a coaster track.

ALSO SEE: Six Flags Magic Mountain will get a suspended motorbike coaster in 2026

The grand finale drops riders seven stories through a tunnel that ends in a climatic splashdown.

The 74-foot-tall Mack Rides water coaster will reach a top speed of 46 mph over a 2,600-foot-long track, according to RCDB.

6) Adrena-Line

Fans racing to ride Falcons Flight will find a second coaster in the park’s City of Thrills themed land: Adrena-Line.

The 66-foot-tall Adrena-Line will reach a top speed of 45 mph over a 1,600-foot-long track, according to RCDB.

The Vekoma suspended family coaster with seats hanging beneath the track is designed for a tween audience looking for something more thrilling than a kiddie coaster but not yet ready for inversions.

ALSO SEE: Top 10 new theme park attractions in the U.S. for 2025

7) Sea Stallion

The Sea Stallion coaster will take riders over rivers and behind waterfalls in the Discovery Springs land set amid an ancient oasis fed by spring water.

The interactive Maurer Rides Spike powered coaster will let riders control the speed of the two-seat motorbike-style ride over 1,700 feet of track.

ALSO SEE: Is Knott’s Xcelerator coaster an endangered species?

Six Flags is billing the Sea Stallion as the tallest (39 feet) and fastest (44 mph) rider-controlled coaster in the world.

Most ride enthusiasts will recognize the Maurer Spike as the Bolt coaster built on Carnival cruise ships.

8) Twilight Express

Twilight Express will be the first coaster experience for many children in the park’s Twilight Gardens kiddie land.

The Vekoma Horus family coaster will use a booster wheel to take riders to the top of the 41-foot-tall lift hill before sending them 25 mph along the 1,100-foot-long track filled with twists and dips.

The oversized landscape with colorful flowers in Twilight Gardens will be reminiscent of the former Bug’s Land at Disney California Adventure that was bulldozed to make way for Avengers Campus.

As the name implies, Twilight Gardens will transform from a hidden greenspace in the daytime to a glowing enchanted forest after dark.

ALSO SEE: Top 10 new theme park attractions in the world for 2025

Beyond the eight coaster, the new Six Flags park will feature 20 more rides and attractions in six themed lands.

The lineup includes two dark rides (Enchanted Greenhouse and Into the Deep), the world’s tallest drop tower (475-foot-tall Sirocco Tower), pendulum swing (Gyrospin), log flume (Zoomaflooma) and a Zamperla Nedulaz (Sprockenator).

A Dragon Ball theme park and an Aquarabia water park are also planned for the massive Qiddiya City entertainment project.

​ Orange County Register 

Trump orders release of JFK, RFK and MLK assassination records

• January 23, 2025

By JAMIE STENGLE, Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) — President Donald Trump has ordered the release of thousands of classified governmental documents about the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which has fueled conspiracy theories for decades.

The executive order Trump signed Thursday also aims to declassify the remaining federal records relating to the assassinations of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The order is among a flurry of executive actions Trump has quickly taken the first week of his second term.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “everything will be revealed.”

Trump had promised during his reelection campaign to make public the last batches of still-classified documents surrounding President Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, which has transfixed people for decades. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld.

Trump has nominated Kennedy’s nephew, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be the health secretary in his new administration. Kennedy, whose father, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968 while running for president and has said he isn’t convinced that a lone gunman was solely responsible for the assassination of his uncle, President Kennedy, in 1963.

The order directs the director of national intelligence and the attorney general to develop a plan within 15 days to declassify the remaining John F. Kennedy records, and within 45 days for the other two cases. It was not clear when the records would actually be released.

Trump handed the pen used to sign the order to an aide and directed it to be given to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination of President Kennedy have yet to be fully declassified. And while many who have studied what’s been released so far say the public shouldn’t anticipate any earth-shattering revelations, there is still an intense interest in details related to the assassination and the events surrounding it.

“There’s always the possibility that something would slip through that would be the tiny tip of a much larger iceberg that would be revealing,” said Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics and author of “The Kennedy Half-Century.” “That’s what researchers look for. Now, odds are you won’t find that but it is possible that it’s there.”

Kennedy was fatally shot in downtown Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, as his motorcade passed in front of the Texas School Book Depository building, where 24-year-old assassin Lee Harvey Oswald had positioned himself from a sniper’s perch on the sixth floor. Two days after Kennedy was killed, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer.

In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president.

During his first term, Trump boasted that he’d allow the release of all of the remaining records on the president’s assassination but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released under President Joe Biden, some still remain unseen.

Sabato, who trains student researchers to comb through the documents, said that most researchers agree that “roughly” 3,000 records have not yet been released, either in whole or in part, and many of those originated with the CIA.

The documents released over the last several years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas.

There are still some documents in the collection though that researchers don’t believe the president would be able to release. Around 500 documents, including tax returns, weren’t subject to the 2017 disclosure requirement. And, researchers note, documents have also been destroyed over the decades.

​ Orange County Register 

I had to quit drinking. Here are the nonalcoholic beers that helped me do it

• January 23, 2025

After more than 20 years of drinking craft beer, and even working in the industry in Colorado, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2021.

Anklyosing spondylitis (AS) is a rare rheumatological disease that affects only about 1% of adults in the United States. It attacks areas around the spine and peripheral joints where inflammation flares, often encasing the vertebrae in bone. The resulting spinal fusion increasingly renders one immobile and, in extreme cases, a person can lose their ability to walk.

Receiving this diagnosis terrified me. I had no idea what the future held or how much my life was about to change.

What I did know was that alcohol is an inflammatory substance, and that meant I would have to face the harsh reality that my drinking days were over.

But acting on that reality was a monumental challenge. While waiting for the insurance company to approve treatment, I took myself on a Farewell To My Favorite Breweries tour, complete with sorrowful goodbyes and tears in my beers. COVID policies were still in place in restaurants and breweries, so I often sat at an outdoor table in the cold, lamenting my bad luck and wondering how I was going to quit drinking and, perhaps more importantly, how I would let go of the beer culture that had sustained me for so long.

Once I started treating the AS with proper medication, I felt better overall, which also meant I kept the beer train rolling.

Quitting loomed large in my mind but so did a wholesale rearrangement of my social life and my primary means of entertainment. I loved craft breweries – the community, the camaraderie, the perks. I didn’t want to quit drinking. I felt “fine” and believed everything was progressing as it should.

I could not have been more wrong.

In the spring of 2023, after a one-beer visit with friends at Spangalang Brewing in Denver, I returned home and drank another pint while cooking dinner. The next day I felt so awful that I had to take a nap as afternoon came on. I was sluggish, my joints screaming, and my back felt like it was being stretched on a rack. A dull headache beat behind my eyes and no amount of water quenched my thirst.

I had to come to terms with the fact that even if I wasn’t done with drinking, my body was forcing the issue, and drinking was done with me. No amount of alcohol was without consequence, and I was certainly exacerbating the symptoms of my AS, my inflammatory markers rising with each sip.

As summer came on, I had my last full-strength beer, a Rare Trait IPA from Denver’s Cerebral Brewing. I didn’t know it would be my last: My Farewell Tour had been a bust, I hadn’t set a quit date, and I wasn’t headed into a “dry” month. I simply quit. It was quiet, with little fanfare, and it stuck.

People quit drinking for many reasons. Some, like me, have the decision made for them due to health issues. Others want to avoid the deleterious effects of drinking and the impacts it has on the body. It could be a calorie issue, the result of developing an allergic reaction to alcohol, or the fact that drinking too much too often can lead to serious problems.

Whatever the reason, more and more people are opting out of alcohol consumption and choosing alternatives.

I may have stopped consuming “real” beer, but I never lost a taste for it. Soon after I quit, I started seeking out more non-alcoholic options, hitting both big and small liquor stores in Denver to peruse their selections.

Since I’d been a big IPA fan (IPAs are often the most highly-caloric beer style, with some varieties hitting 300 calories per pint), I was most interested in N/A beers with less of a caloric punch than their alcoholic counterparts. Carbs were also a factor, and I didn’t want to ingest a lot of extra sugar.

I’ve now tried more than 30 N/A beers. Some were so bad they went the way of the drain, while others were a pleasant surprise. What follows is a list of my favorite non-alcoholic beers and hop waters, all of which are currently available in metro Denver. However your tastes lean, there’s undoubtedly an N/A offering that will satisfy your thirst.

When I had to quit drinking, here are the N/A beers that helped me do it.

Untitled Art Italian Pilsner

Brewed in Wisconsin and distributed in 23 states, this is the beer that made me believe great-tasting N/A options were possible. Delicious hop character, grapefruit-forward, very refreshing. Can be a bit pricey. (40 calories, 8g carbs, 2g sugar per 12-ounce can)

Best Day Kölsch

Dangerously close to the real thing, I always keep this California beer on hand. It has a bready, dry finish and is a nice slice of Germany in an NA package. You can buy this as part of a mixed 12-pack that includes Kölsch, West Coast IPA and Hazy IPA styles. (55 calories, 11g carbs, 3g protein per 12-ounce can)

Hoplark 0.0 Really Really Hoppy

I reach for Hoplark when I want a zero-calorie hop fix. Simcoe and Citra hops are the stars here, lending notes of tangerine and stone fruits. Based out of Boulder, Hoplark’s portfolio includes numerous N/A craft brews, hop teas and sparkling waters. (0 calories, 0 carbs)

Fremont Brewing Dark

If you’re a fan of Seattle-based Fremont’s Dark Star Imperial Oatmeal Stout, this could be up your alley. Roasty, with notes of chocolate, coffee and a hint of anise. A great winter beer and a fabulous choice for pairing with desserts. (Nutritional information unavailable)

Oskar Blues Designated Dale’s N/A Pilsner

A new offering from one of Colorado’s most storied breweries, this pilsner is my new go-to when it comes to a light lager that’s nearly identical to its full-strength counterparts. Crisp and clean with a skosh of hops. (60 calories, 15g carbs per 12-ounce can)

Mash Gang Chug Hazy IPA

Chug, from a UK brewery that now distributes in the United States, gets first prize for the best nose of any N/A IPA I’ve had yet. Pale straw in color, the addition of mango introduces a lush tropical note to the beer. This is a great option for the haze lover. (Nutritional information unavailable)

Partake Pale Ale

When I want something between a hop water and an N/A beer, Partake fits the bill. The Canadian brewery has several low-calorie, low-carb options, but the Pale Ale is my favorite as it delivers a nice mix of citrus and pine-forward hops. (10 calories, 4g carbs per 12-ounce can)

Prost Brewing Pilsner

Prost, which has four locations in Colorado and two more on the way, just began selling this N/A lager at its taprooms (single cans only). The brewers there are using a new approach to brewing non-alcoholic beer, but the details are top secret. Full-bodied, with a noticeable malt backbone, it’s a bit of a departure from other NA Pilsners, and this is a good thing. (Nutritional information unavailable)

Cerebral Brewing Just the Hops

My favorite hop water, hands down. Made with Citra, Mosaic and El Dorado hops, it’s a satisfying and flavorful option when you want something with 0 alcohol and 0 calories. Cerebral currently has a version made with pineapple. (0 calories, 0 carbs per 16-ounce can)

Sierra Nevada Trail Pass IPA

As a longtime fan of the OG California craft beer Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, I was anxious to get my hands on its N/A IPA, and it didn’t disappoint. The use of Amarillo and CTZ hops delivers a spicy bitterness while the body is reminiscent of IPAs with 10 times the alcohol content. (83 calories, 17.9g carbs per 12-ounce can)

Busch N/A and Old Milwaukee N/A

For those who like to spend a little less for a lot more, these two N/A lagers might fit the bill. Don’t laugh: This is not the stuff of your college years. After tasting numerous mass-produced N/A lagers – Bud, Coors, Corona, Heineken, Peroni, Stella Artois and Asahi, among others – Busch and Old Mil were pleasant surprises. They lack the “tinny” flavor present in too many big-beer N/As, and are easily crushable on a hot day. (Busch is 64 calories and 13.4g of carbs per 12-ounce can; Old Milwaukee is 58 calories with 12.1g of carbs per 12-ounce can)

​ Orange County Register 

The Senate confirms John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA, giving Trump his second Cabinet member

• January 23, 2025

By DAVID KLEPPER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe as CIA director, giving President Donald Trump the second member of his new Cabinet.

Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term and is the first person to have held that position and the top post at the CIA, the nation’s premier spy agency. The Texas Republican is a former federal prosecutor who emerged as a fierce Trump defender while serving as a congressman during Trump’s first impeachment.

The vote was 74-25.

At his Senate hearing last week, Ratcliffe said the CIA must do better when it comes to using technology such as artificial intelligence to confront adversaries including Russia and China. He said the United States needed to improve its intelligence capabilities while also ensuring the protection of Americans’ civil rights.

Ratcliffe said that if confirmed, he would push the CIA to do more to harness technologies such as AI and quantum computing while expanding use of human intelligence collection.

“We’re not where we’re supposed to be,” Ratcliffe told members of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Democrats raised questions about Ratcliffe’s objectivity and whether his loyalty to Trump would prompt him to politicize his position and blind him to the duties of the job. Concerns from Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., forced the Senate’s Republican leaders to postpone Ratcliffe’s confirmation vote, which originally was scheduled for Tuesday.

Former Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was confirmed earlier this week as secretary of state, the first member of Trump’s Cabinet.

Ratcliffe has said he views China as America’s greatest geopolitical rival, and that Russia, Iran, North Korea and drug cartels, hacking gangs and terrorist organizations also pose challenges to national security.

He supports the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a government spying program that allows authorities to collect without warrant the communications of non-Americans outside the country. If those people are communicating with Americans, those conversations can be swept up, too, which has led to questions about violations of personal rights.

Trump and other Republicans have criticized the work of the CIA and other spy agencies, saying they have focused too much on climate change, workforce diversity and other issues.

The calls for a broad overhaul have worried some current and former intelligence officials who say the changes could make the country less safe.

Like other Trump nominees, Ratcliffe is a Trump loyalist. Aside from his work to defend Trump during his first impeachment proceedings, Ratcliffe also forcefully questioned former special counsel Robert Mueller when he testified before lawmakers about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

As director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe oversaw and coordinated the work of more than a dozen spy agencies. Among other duties, the office directs efforts to detect and counter foreign efforts to influence U.S. politics.

Trump picked Ratcliffe to serve in that position in 2019, but he quickly withdrew from consideration after lawmakers raised questions about his qualifications. He was ultimately confirmed by a sharply divided Senate after Trump resubmitted the nomination.

In that job, Ratcliffe was accused by Democrats of politicizing intelligence when he declassified Russian intelligence that purported to reveal information about Democrats during the 2016 election even as he acknowledged the information might not be accurate.

Trump’s second-term nominee for director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, faces a tougher road to confirmation. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, has faced bipartisan criticism over past comments supportive of Russia and 2017 meetings with then-Syrian President Bashar Assad.

​ Orange County Register 

Rams’ veteran core faces uncertainty this offseason

• January 23, 2025

The last two years, the Rams have walked two parallel paths. After a Super Bowl title in 2021 and a doomed-by-injury encore, the front office had to reset the books, commit to cost-controlled draft picks and college free agents to fill the roster. By the end of the 2024 season, 26 of the 53 players on the active roster were in their first or second years in the NFL.

But the Rams insisted heading into 2023 that this was no rebuild, simply a “remodel” around a Super Bowl core that, after the retirement of Aaron Donald, was led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp, right tackle Rob Havenstein and tight end Tyler Higbee. And sure enough, those veterans helped the team stay competitive and make the postseason two years in a row.

“What I think is cool is you have guys that really set the culture,” head coach Sean McVay said Thursday, four days after the Rams’ season ended with a divisional-round loss to the Eagles. “I think when it comes from the players and the guys in terms of the way that they model the way, it creates a clear understanding of what it looks like. And then when you get the right kinds of guys, then they can mimic and emulate that in their own way that’s authentic to their personality. So those guys have been instrumental. They sure have meant a lot to me over the course of eight years.”

But as the Rams enter the offseason, whether the team will continue to walk both paths – of the youth movement and the old guard – has come into question.

McVay declined to discuss players’ future statuses with the team with reporters Thursday. He said late next week that he will meet with ownership, the front office and the coaching staff to map out the long-term vision for the Rams.

One of the first priorities in those discussions, McVay said, will be quarterback.

In his fourth season with the Rams, Stafford completed 65.8% of passes for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Just as last year, he elevated his play down the stretch as the Rams tried to overcome a three-games-below-.500 start to the year to make the playoffs. In his final seven starts, Stafford threw nine touchdowns to one interception as the Rams went 6-1 and clinched the NFC West title.

That trend continued into the playoffs, with a 4-to-0 TD-to-INT ratio in two games while leading the Rams to the cusp of an improbable comeback against the Eagles.

But that attempt fell short, and in the wake of the loss, Stafford expressed belief he could still play NFL football while saying he needed to think about what his future has in store.

“Obviously I love him, love working with him. What he’s meant to our football team has been immeasurable in a positive way,” McVay said. “The coolest thing you can say about Matthew is he shines the brightest on the biggest stages. And when you look at the seven playoff games that he’s played in since he’s been a Ram, he certainly gives you a chance every time you step out on the field.”

Last offseason, it was reported during the NFL draft that Stafford wanted to rework his contract with the Rams. Those talks carried all the way up to the eve of training camp, with the final deal reportedly moving guaranteed money from 2025 to 2024 and making it easier for both sides to move on if that’s what they want now.

As the Rams and Stafford evaluate what they want next, McVay does not want to see the process drag on as late into the calendar this year.

“We don’t want to have that go on again,” McVay said. “I don’t think that’s good for anybody. I think sooner than later, being able to get that clarity, understanding clear, open and honest communication. I think there is a lot of love coming from our part, I think there’s a lot of appreciation coming from his part, as well. … Matthew and I have obviously talked. He knows how important he is to me and to our football team.”

For Kupp, he admitted on Monday that 2024 was a frustrating year for him. From a high ankle sprain that cost him four games to freak happenstance on the field, his production did not meet the lofty standards he’s set throughout his career.

“All you can do from a receiver perspective, ‘Am I separating? Am I doing the things that I’m asked on every single play?’ And I think he can be proud of that,” McVay said. “I was really pleased and proud of the way that he led, the way that he handled himself.”

Kupp expressed a desire to return to the Rams in 2025, but admitted he is not sure how he fits into the team’s future plans. He is set to count $29.78 million against the salary cap next season, but the Rams could save $15 million against the cap in 2025 by cutting him with a post-June 1 designation, per OverTheCap.

So do the Rams decide to move on? Can they and Kupp find common ground on a restructured contract that keeps him with horns on his helmet? McVay did not give an indication either way, but spoke about looming difficult conversations with the receiver who was a part of his first draft class with the Rams in 2017.

“Cooper has changed my life for the better. … You try to say it’s business, it’s personal. Well, it all blends together because this is still relationships,” McVay said. “One of the things that I’ve learned from him as much as anybody is there’s no good way to go about hard conversations other than just straight to the point. And if you really love somebody enough, then you’re able to be honest and direct with them. And he’s always done that to me. That’s what I’ve done with him and we’ll be able to figure out what is the best way to navigate that moving forward.”

Similarly, the Rams could stand to save money toward the 2025 cap with post-June 1 cuts of Higbee (about $4.7 million in savings) and Havenstein (about $8.2 million in savings).

On Monday, Higbee said he is not ready to retire, adding, “Cup isn’t full yet, you know?” Havenstein, the last remaining St. Louis Ram after Donald’s retirement last year, was less definitive but McVay raved about what the veteran added to the Rams in his 10th season.

“The difference between when he was in the lineup and when he wasn’t, the impact that he had. It’s been really fun to watch him evolve into the leader and the man that he is,” McVay said. “We will talk and we’ll see where he’s at, what he’s looking at. But when you talk about those guys like Matthew, like Cooper, like Rob Havenstein, like Tyler Higbee … those guys, being those veteran leaders and modeling the way and what they’ve meant day in and day out, it’s been really cool.”

But that’s where the old guard’s timeline starts to bump up against the new wave of talent the Rams have added in recent seasons.

The 2023 draft class – including receiver Puka Nacua, defensive tackle Kobie Turner, edge rusher Byron Young and left guard Steve Avila – will be eligible for extensions after next season. Outside linebacker Jared Verse and defensive end Braden Fiske will be up for extensions after 2026.

This offseason, the Rams will decide whether to offer an extension to running back Kyren Williams, set to be a free agent next winter after accruing 2,831 scrimmage yards and 31 total touchdowns the past two seasons.

“What he represents, all the different things that we really want to be about as a football team and he’s checking a lot of those boxes,” McVay said. “I think that’s certainly something that will be discussed as well.”

So that’s the terrain the Rams must navigate this offseason, determining if the old guard and the young wave can continue to walk the path together.

“Let’s really evaluate what’s the best thing for the Rams football team moving into 2025,” McVay said. “But I’m sure grateful and appreciative of those guys and what they’ve meant to me both personally and professionally.”

Notes

Fiske will require a “minor procedure” for the knee injury that he suffered in the Rams’ playoff exit, McVay said, but it’s not something that’s expected to impact his availability for next season.

Beyond that, McVay said there might be some other minor cleanup surgeries for players this offseason, but nothing that requires urgent attention like Higbee’s ACL tear a year ago.

McVay said he will not making any changes to his coaching staff unless members leave for better opportunities. He confirmed that game management assistant John Streicher has left for a role with the Patriots, and that the Bears have formally requested an interview with defensive backs coach and assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant for their defensive coordinator job.

McVay said that he has spoken with tight ends coach Nick Caley about some interest from the New York Jets for their offensive coordinator job, but no formal interview has been requested.

​ Orange County Register